COXDEVELOPMENT
Billie Williamson-Forrester (BBA ’74) has been a loyal and involved Mustang since day one. As
a Cox accounting student, Forrester excelled in the classroom and beyond citing one of her most cherished involvements as being the student body treasurer. Even as an undergraduate, Forrester strived to make a positive difference on campus. “I had the opportunity to work with wonderful people and engage with faculty. When you work with good people who propose good solutions, you can see great things accomplished,” says Forrester. Thanks to generous supporters like Forrester, great things continue to be accomplished in Cox. With the creation of the Billie Ida – Ernst & Young Scholarship Endowment, the future of the Cox Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program is brighter than ever. Forrester’s deep passion for helping women launch successful business careers spurred the creation of this endowment which will provide assistance to female accounting students who wish to complete the MSA program at SMU. This additional education is crucial to an individual’s success in the accounting field, but due to financial constraints, some students may not be able to continue at SMU for a fifth year, says Forrester. This endowment will now help make it possible for welldeserving students. Forrester, who is a senior partner with Ernst & Young Dallas and oversees Americas Inclusiveness, speaks highly of her time at SMU and credits much of her professional success to the education she received from the Cox School of Business. “Creating this endowment is a way for me to pay it forward,” says Forrester. “SMU attracts outstanding students who go on to make a great impact on the business community; in fact Ernst & Young has hired tremendous talent from Cox over the years. It is exciting and an honor to help young people complete their education and launch successful careers,” adds Forrester. Aside from the endowment, Forrester has made a profound impact on the university and our students. As a current member of the Cox School of Business Campaign Steering Committee and the Tate Lecture Board, Forrester has played an integral role in molding the future of SMU, and her leadership has been instrumental in helping Cox achieve significant fundraising goals that have propelled the school in prominence and rank. “I loved my time at SMU and made wonderful friends. It is a privilege to contribute to what SMU can be for the future and to help students,” says Forrester.
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